False alarm.

Last Saturday, the family and I were supposed to go to the Baby Company fair at Megatrade Hall but passed by the clinic for an emergency check-up because I had this white mens-like discharge that morning. Long story short, she had me admitted that same afternoon at the labor room for having 3cm dilation and contractions.

I stayed at the labor room, bored to death with literally nothing to do, for almost 12 hours. I entered at around 1:45 in the afternoon and was sent to my room at 12 midnight. Bry stayed with me through the night then I had to get back to the labor room again for observation at 4am, Sunday. This time, I stayed 'til 6 in the afternoon but I slept through most of the day since I got really, really bangag the day before.

At 6pm, Sunday, I was sent back to my room. My OB visited me and told Bry and my parents about the situation (Dilation's still at 2cm [where she got 3cm last Saturday, I don't know] and the contractions stopped) and that I will be under observation until the following morning. She said I will be having another biophysical exam for the baby and that's when she'll decide what to do.

At 6am the following morning, I had the NST exam before breakfast then went on to have the ultrasound. Brianna's in very good condition and my OB said I'll be discharged from the hospital. She gave me a few more reminders before I got back into the room. Nurses, Medocare coordinators and staff kept on knocking on the door probably for their procedures whenever someone will be discharged from the hospital.

Was released at around 11am and waited 'til 2pm for the bill. Here's where everything got crazy:

• DELIVERY SUITE (a.k.a. The Labor Room) - Php 21,971.00 --The bulk of the final bill was this! I stayed here for around 26 hours, they
• OB PF - Php 8,000.00 --Twas like she delivered my baby already.
• Medocare initially added another day to our bill so we had to let them know they were being madaya and we had everything checked again.

Those are just some of the hassles we had to go through in the Billing department.

Anyway, the grand total of the bill is... Drumroll please...

Php 37,409.20 

Panu pa kaya pag nadeliver na talaga si Brianna? Oh well, it doesn't matter as long as she's healthy and delivered safely into the world.

But, yeah. I think it's too much. Especially if you see my room.

The Medical City rates (Normal Delivery)

I called Medical City up just a little while back to ask them regarding the rates for delivery. I originally wanted to know how much EXACTLY the rates were but all they could give me were rough estimates and the rates minus the professional fees of the doctors.

As of January 10...

Delivery costs around Php 30,000.00 plus professional fees (OB-GYN, Pediatrician and Anaesthesiologist) and includes

• Delivery room
• Supplies to be used for delivery
• Anaesthesia
• Recovery room (private room) for 2-3 days stay

Nursery costs Php 10,000.00 to Php 15,000.00 plus professional fee (Pediatrician) and includes the kit you will be given for the baby (e.g. diapers) and 2-3 days stay of the baby in the nursery.

The newborn screening and hearing test for newborn fee is not yet included in the nursery fee. These tests will cost you around Php 1,000.00 plus.

I forgot to ask if these rates are inclusive of tax so I might call again later or tomorrow but I think the rates are already VAT inclusive.

I also did not ask about the rates for cesarean delivery because I won't be needing it. There.

Please note that these rates are just estimates and may change without notice.

My bestfriend and I were talking about where I should give birth...

Medical City was the only option I had before PSI. I just thought that I'll be putting my parents into more hurt if I don't follow what they want after my explosive announcement. But now that I know better, I know that I am just assuming all these things because I would feel this way when this has been done to me. Not that I am putting their feelings aside... Okay, enough about PSI.

Anyway, I was chatting with my bestfriend online when I realized that the choice of hospital is not practical for Bry and me. I will talk to my parents one of these days regarding this. It's my responsibility as Brianna's mom to decide for the both of us.